Red Sox trade deadline live updates: Will Craig Breslow make another big move?
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox have been linked to several impact bats over the last few weeks.
The Red Sox have been one of the hottest teams in baseball over the last month, closing out July with a record of 21-4.
But if Boston wants to carry momentum into the fall and make a run in a wide-open American League, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow likely will need to make another major move before MLB’s trade deadline at 6 p.m. Monday.
Breslow and Boston have already made one move — acquiring Curtis Mead from the Nationals in a one-for-one swap for Connelly Early. But, Mead’s season is now in jeopardy after fracturing his wrist in his Red Sox debut, and the case can be made that Boston was still in need of another bat or two even if Mead was healthy.
Given all of the smoke surrounding the Red Sox when it comes to their reported interest in several top players out on the trade market, Boston might have an appetite to orchestrate another blockbuster deal or two by Monday evening.
As MLB’s hot stove continues to heat up, follow along with us over the next few days as we post the latest updates of both the Red Sox’ trade deadline plans, as well as the top stories across baseball.
LIVE UPDATES
Sunday, August 2
3:30: It looks as though the Yankees are also improving, as New York is reportedly acquiring Luis Garcia Jr. from Washington. Garcia is batting .283 with 23 home runs and 76 RBI this season, and should take advantage of the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium.
2:00: One of the Red Sox’ top rivals in the AL East is loading up, as the Rays are acquiring starter Freddy Peralta from the Mets for a package of prospects.
The 30-year-old righty has struggled this year in New York (5-9, 4.99 ERA), but was one of the best pitchers in baseball during his time with the Brewers. The Rays — who sit atop the AL East — now add Peralta to a rotation that already boasts names like Drew Rasmussen and Shane McLanahan.
1:45: According to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe, the Red Sox likely aren’t going to be in the mix for Marlins star shortstop Otto Lopez. Miami reportedly took him off the market.
“According to multiple major league sources, the Marlins — who entered Sunday trailing the Phillies for the final wild card spot by just 1 1/2 games —are showing no inclination to move shortstop Otto Lopez, their All-Star who has hit .322/.355/.481 with nine homers, 44 extra-base hits, and 22 steals. Lopez remains under team control through 2029. The Sox have been engaged at various points — including in the past week — with the Marlins about Lopez, but Miami isn’t inclined to make everyone available,” Speier wrote.
But Speier — and Jon Morosi — noted that the Marlins might “consider” moving catcher Liam Hicks — who has posted a .283/.364/.434 line with 14 homers this year. The 27-year-old Hicks, who also DHs for Miami, has four more years of team control, so he’d cost a pretty penny.
Last week, ESPN’s Jeff Passan floated a potential blockbuster deal between the Red Sox and Marlins centered on acquiring both Lopez and Hicks as two impact bats for Boston’s lineup.
10:00 a.m.: Zach Neto has been linked to the Red Sox for a little over a year now as a power-hitting shortstop with years of team control still in place. Even with his high whiff rate, Neto would cost a lot to pry him from Los Angeles, per the Globe’s Tim Healey.
“With two days until the deadline, the Sox continued to face a significant asking price from the Angels in their ongoing talks about shortstop Zach Neto,” Healey wrote. “The Angels seek shortstop Franklin Arias, a source said, to headline a package that would include other prospects.
“Neto, 25, has hit .247/.320/.450 — solidly above-average — over the past three seasons but rates poorly on defensive range statistics. He comes with an additional three years of contractual control, through 2029, so the Angels are under little pressure to trade him — unless a club gives them what they want. Arias, 20, ranked by Baseball America as the No. 3 prospect overall, has hit well over a week-plus since being promoted to Triple-A Worcester. He started at second base for a second game in a row Saturday.”
Saturday, August 1
11:55: Well, the rich get richer.
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Dodgers have won the Tarik Skubal sweepstakes — acquiring the reigning two-time AL Cy Young Award winner and adding him to already one of the best rotations in baseball.
Per Passan, outfielder Zyhir Hope, right-hander River Ryan and right-hander Brady Smith are going to Detroit. It’s a pretty underwhelming return, given that Hope is the only top-50 prospect dealt in the trade, per MLB Pipeline’s rankings.
In 16 starts with the Tigers this season, Skubal is 7-5 with a 2.79 ERA and 116 strikeouts over 96.2 innings. The southpaw joins a rotation that already includes names like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, Tyler Gasnow, and many others.
The Dodgers sure look like a wagon as they attempt a three-peat in October.
10:00: The Mariners, a team that fell just a game short of the World Series last year, seem to be selling off pieces in what has been a major step back for them. Luis Castillo, who has seemingly been mentioned in trade talks with the Red Sox for years, is heading to the White Sox for reliever Seranthony Domínguez, outfielder Nolan Jones and catching prospect Boston Smith.
Per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN, the White Sox will absorb all of the remaining money on Luis Castillo’s contract in the trade. So, a pro-rated portion of $22.75M this year and $22.75M next year.
7:20: Franklin Arias might be the best asset for the Red Sox if they want to acquire an impact player by Monday evening. But, Boston is being selective as far as who would actually move the needle in a potential deal for their top prospect.
“One rival executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity to be candid, said he believes the Red Sox might only trade Arias for the Washington Nationals’ CJ Abrams,” The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Jen McCaffrey wrote on Saturday. “The Red Sox are not necessarily as high on other shortstops who’ve been linked to the team, such as the Los Angeles Angels’ Zach Neto and Miami Marlins’ Otto Lopez. Abrams is under club control for two additional seasons, Neto and Lopez for three.”
Arias, who is already making an impact at Triple-A Worcester at just 20 years old, could be Boston’s potential franchise fixture at short as soon as next season. But, the 25-year-old Abrams is an intriguing fit. Abrams is batting .290 with 28 home runs and 85 RBI so far this season with the Nationals.
7:00: Well, the Red Sox sure seem to be leaving no stone unturned when it comes to big fish out on the market.
According to MassLive’s Sean McAdam, Boston made a hefty offer for Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz — but the prospect-heavy package was not enough to entice Cincy, who is reportedly looking for more young major-league talent in any swap.
“The Red Sox told the Reds that they weren’t willing to subtract from their major league roster in order to make a deal,” McAdam wrote.
De la Cruz, 24, would fit the bill as a franchise shortstop and star talent for the Red Sox — blending speed (67 steals in 2024) with plenty of pop and high hit tools. He is also under team control for another three seasons after this current campaign.
Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic added that the Red Sox were also interested in Reds starter Hunter Greene, who has been hindered this season while returning from injury. In 2024 and 2025, the talented righty had a combined 16-9 record, a 2.75 ERA, and 301 strikeouts over 258 innings of work.
3:00: One minor move for the Red Sox, as Boston is sending lefty pitcher Jojo Ingrassia to the Tigers as the player to be named later to complete the Jahmai Jones trade. Jones has been a solid pickup for Boston, especially as a platoon option in the outfield who can hit against lefties.
1:30: He may not be as flashy of a name at this stage of his career, but CBS Sports has tabbed George Springer as a potential target for Boston.
“One destination that interests Springer, according to a source familiar with his thinking, is Boston,” CBS Sports’ Julian McWilliams noted, adding: “The Red Sox have interest, but only under the right circumstances.”
Springer, 36, is having a tough year for the Blue Jays, batting .237 with 12 home runs and 36 RBI over 81 games this season. But, the slugging outfielder/DH played a key role in Toronto’s run to a World Series appearance last year, and has dominated at Fenway Park over the years.
In 51 games at Boston’s ballpark, he’s slashing .323/.400/.540 with a .940 OPS and 10 home runs.
1:00: According to Julian McWilliams of CBS Sports, the Red Sox are willing to trade outfielder Jarren Duran before Monday’s trade deadline, noting that the outfielder still has some semblance of a market despite his poor play this season.
“Despite Duran’s struggles this season, he is still believed to have a market, though not nearly the one he would have commanded had Boston moved him at last year’s trade deadline,” McWilliams wrote. “The Padres, who have long been linked to Duran, remain in the market for a left-handed-hitting outfielder, making them a logical fit.
12:00: In terms of primers for deadline coverage, here’s a look at some names still out on the trade market that Boston can target, as well as some of Boston’s top trade chips — headlined by blue-chip prospect Franklin Arias and other prospects like Anthony Eyanson.
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